Known Free Computer OS

[jdbailey1206]

I have a question for those who know about computers.  I may pick up a computer the next couple of days for my next build.  The said computer doesn't have an operating system on it.  My question to everyone is if they know or have used a free OS that was user friendly (w/o use of command lines) and is compatible with MAME.  I have read that you can use MAME on Linux but I want to stay away from anything that uses a command line if I could. 

And if I have to resort to Linux is there any version that runs like Windows?  Thanks for the IT help guys.   




Just stumbled upon Zorin 9.0....this looks interesting.....

[dkersten]

If you are in the states, I have a couple licenses for Windows XP laying around if you want one.  It limits you to 32 bit but otherwise is pretty solid.  If you want one, just drop me your address and I will mail a cd and license out. 

Otherwise Ubuntu is super easy to install and uses a graphical interface.  I mostly have Linux server experience and have never done a Linux personal computer and I was able to get it up and running in about 30 minutes, including downloading the OS and putting it on a USB stick.  I use it to power a 50" display on my wall in my office for network monitoring, and it is running Firefox perfectly.  I can't say what emulators work on Linux, I am not that into it, but this one is easy as hell to set up and use.

[Slippyblade]

Even Windows still has a command line.  There is a ton of stuff, especially with MAME and front ends, that is just easier to do from the command line.

[Yenome]

not sure if it being made anymore but there was a version of linux called lindows that was made to be a copy of windows far as ease of use it concerned. Lots of people use Ubuntu. If you get a copy of windows 7 most of them will let you use it past the 30 days without a code or activation. just keep clicking activate later.

[SavannahLion]

Lindows was changed to Linspire and was eventually dropped in favor of Xandros which is now discontinued.

I never tried Xandros, but I tried Lindows/Linspire back when Frys used to sell GQ PC's. The business model is well intentioned but trash. Since all versions are discontinued, they have nothing to offer unless you're still running a PC from that era, even then, I would advise against it.

Go for Ubuntu if you want ease of installation. It's usually my go-to if I want a Windows-like environment and don't want to hassle too much with command line. I do get annoyed with all the damn code branches. Mint looks interesting though, but I don't know if it's still active.

If you're unsure if you're going to be comfortable, try Knoppix and a Live Disc. I keep a few Live Discs around.


There are about a bazillion others out there: http://distrowatch.com/

[ray_slup]

try puppy arcade

[keilmillerjr]

You can think of Linux as the core of an operating system. It is called Linux Kernel. It is not a complete system. Add GNU packages (frameworks and applications) with the Linux Kernel and you now have a GNU/Linux distribution. There are various distributions that offer different packages.

I'd try Ubuntu. They will even mail you install discs for free. Very cool. And it's very user friendly. Be aware that there is also other variants with slightly different goals in mind. kubuntu, lubuntu, and xubuntu. Just google if your interested in the differences after trying Ubuntu.

My recommendation does not mean it's the best or only distribution. There are plenty of others out there. However, Ubuntu is a great place to start.

[jdbailey1206]

Its been about ten years since I fiddled with Ubuntu.  I remember it being a breeze to install but it was a little harder to install apps and that is where I ran into the problems with command lines. 

[keilmillerjr]

Its been about ten years since I fiddled with Ubuntu.  I remember it being a breeze to install but it was a little harder to install apps and that is where I ran into the problems with command lines.

It doesn't get much easier than Ubuntu Software Center. It's all gui. Easier than winblows. Lol

[lacanian]

GroovyArcade if your using a CRT monitor

[Locke141]

I prefer lubuntu over the standard ubuntu. If your running an older system it is the superior choice as it is the same underlining system but is optimized to run much faster by using lighter faster defaults in the software distabution. A prime example of this is the choice of LXDE over Unity as its GUI. It uses the same repositories, the trade off is the look of the OS for better speed. I prefer the look of LXDE any way. It's windows xp like, but better looking.

I just did an install and added mame last night, here is how I did it.

• Go get Lubuntu at http://lubuntu.net
• Choose a 64bit or 32bit ISO and download
• Burn to a disk
• Install it on your PC
• Click on the icon in the bottom left corner, where the start icon would be in XP
• Go to system tools
• Open xTerm
• Type with out the quotation marks "sudo apt-get install updates" then hit return and let it do its updates
• After updates finish type "sudo apt-get install mame" and hit return

Once installed it will be under games. When you click on the start like icon, games should be second from the top.

Don't fear the command line. If your using a Debian based linux  I.E. buntu, Zorin, Kbuntu, Ubuntu GNOME, raspbian, and you know the name of the program you want and its in the Debian repositories "sudo apt-get install (name of the program here)" is all you need to get started. I would recommend you stick with Debian based distributions I.E. any thing Ubuntu related for now.

The great thing about Linux is its free so you can try lots of different distributions.

[j.fitzenr]

+1 For Lubuntu.  Ubuntu with Unity is way more 'slick' and fancy looking and honestly even more user-friendly than Windows (My parents are retired and like nothing more than to complain about how awful their computer is... I did a clean install of Ubuntu about a year ago and they haven't had a single issue since, and my nephews are obsessed with SuperTux now) but Lubuntu is where it's at for slower, older hardware (I run it on my primary, general-purpose laptop atm.  Thing is probably 5 years old and it's still nice and snappy) It's very similar feel-wise to XP as Locke said, but still has a pretty accessible software manager to download what you need without much or any venturing into the big scary command line. 

I messed with Puppy Arcade for a bit on an ancient machine (laptop with Win 2000!) and it worked surprisingly well, but I don't really have enough experience to go further than that.

[knave]

Any of the Ubuntu distros work very well.

You don't need to use the command line in it any more than you use the command prompt in Windows 7.

Steps:
1. go to Ubuntu -> Download the iso.
2. burn a DVD
3. install -> step by step process similar to installing any other OS

[danny_galaga]

I'd be all over Ubuntu myself for mame as I have used it in the past. But in my opinion, mame on Linux blows 

[nitrogen_widget]

I have a live custom .iso of PClinuxOS LXDE with mame .157 no-nag/highscore compiled in & attractmode 1.4 set to run at boot.
It also has Timothy Lotte's crt shader configured & is 64 bit.

I can provide a link to the .iso on my g-drive.
I did however forget the highscore.dat file. whoops
I put the gridlee rom on it so you can at least see it work from a live environment.


i'm currently working on a 32bit version for older hardware that will use fluxbox and have most non-essential stuff turned off so it'll run on as little as 512mb of ram smoothly.

[Locke141]

I have a live custom .iso of PClinuxOS LXDE with mame .157 no-nag/highscore compiled in & attractmode 1.4 set to run at boot.
It also has Timothy Lotte's crt shader configured & is 64 bit.

I can provide a link to the .iso on my g-drive.
I did however forget the highscore.dat file. whoops
I put the gridlee rom on it so you can at least see it work from a live environment.


i'm currently working on a 32bit version for older hardware that will use fluxbox and have most non-essential stuff turned off so it'll run on as little as 512mb of ram smoothly.

Yes, Pleas share. PM sent   

[keilmillerjr]

But in my opinion, mame on Linux blows 

Why? I'm curious. No negative sarcasm, connotation or hidden meaning included.

[danny_galaga]

But in my opinion, mame on Linux blows 

Why? I'm curious. No negative sarcasm, connotation or hidden meaning included.

Because it's not simple. All I used to need is mame 32 and windows 98 and I was golden. Nowadays I don't have any hardware that works easily with win 98 so I am using XP (and Vista on my upcoming project! Yeah I know, right?). Throw in Mala and I have a nice setup. Whats not nice is screwing around with dodgy xp installs (hence using the Vista OS that came with my next projects computer). So in that regard I would welcome Linux. Like I say, I have used Ubuntu in a PC, had no trouble partitioning the drive and installing it. It's nice to always be able to have a nice new install that just works without any hacks or cracks or what have you. But the versions of mame I can get to run on Ubuntu were dire. Note that is what I MYSELF can get to run. If you are good at compiling this, and tarballing that then that's great, but I need something that just works straight up.

[keilmillerjr]

But in my opinion, mame on Linux blows 

Why? I'm curious. No negative sarcasm, connotation or hidden meaning included.

Because it's not simple. All I used to need is mame 32 and windows 98 and I was golden. Nowadays I don't have any hardware that works easily with win 98 so I am using XP (and Vista on my upcoming project! Yeah I know, right?). Throw in Mala and I have a nice setup. Whats not nice is screwing around with dodgy xp installs (hence using the Vista OS that came with my next projects computer). So in that regard I would welcome Linux. Like I say, I have used Ubuntu in a PC, had no trouble partitioning the drive and installing it. It's nice to always be able to have a nice new install that just works without any hacks or cracks or what have you. But the versions of mame I can get to run on Ubuntu were dire. Note that is what I MYSELF can get to run. If you are good at compiling this, and tarballing that then that's great, but I need something that just works straight up.

I have been watching these websites for some time now and have always stay current with mame releases thus far. It might help people use mame on linux that are not linux gods. There is nothing that indicates any no-nag/hiscore modifications to these precompiled sdl mame packages I am linking to. I assume it would be no different than posting a link to the official mame binary. If it is against forum rules, please don't strike down on me.

Ubuntu: http://sdlmame.wallyweek.org
Mac: http://sdlmame.lngn.net

GroovyArcade is a whole operating system package itself, and should just work. Assuming it is using the correct mame version you want.

[Locke141]

Ubuntu: http://sdlmame.wallyweek.org
Mac: http://sdlmame.lngn.net

The Meme Dev site links to both of thought sites, so I think your good.

I am liking SDLmame for MAC, I just need to get the GLSL stuff to work.